FIRST LOOK
http://www.eonline.com/news
ON TELEVISION (THURSDAY 2/1/24)
FOX: Farmer Wants a Wife (Premiere) at 9pm
ABC and NAT GEO: Genius: MLK/X (Premiere) at 9pm
ABC: Soul of a Nation Presents: X/onerated – The Murder of Malcolm X (Premiere) at 10:13pm
ABC: Press Your Luck (Finale) at 8pm
NBCUniversal announced the dates and locations of its One24 and Upfront events. Technology conference One24 is set for Wednesday, March 20 at 30 Rock’s Studio 8H, home of “Saturday Night Live,” to reveal NBCUniversal’s latest capabilities in automation, data, ad innovations, and measurement. Then it’s back to Radio City Music Hall for the company’s upfront presentation, on Monday, May 13. That will be followed by a Telemundo Celebration at The Shed that evening. “As consumers’ viewing habits continue to shift, the opportunity to connect with audiences across platforms is more valuable than ever,” said Mark Marshall, Chairman, NBCUniversal Global Advertising & Partnerships. “The announcements we will make will further our commitment to driving the most effective media for our partners.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
Byron Allen has made an offer for Paramount Global. “We believe this $30 billion offer, which includes debt and equity, is the best solution for all of the Paramount Global shareholders, and the bid should be taken seriously and pursued,” said Allen Media Group. According to Bloomberg, Allen plans sell the Paramount film studio, and keep the TV channels and Paramount+. “While investors were initially skeptical Allen’s offer can be financed, we think he wants the linear assets and there are ample buyers for the studio/content,” wrote Wells Fargo analyst Steve Cahall. “This increases the probability something comes together, which will keep shares elevated.” Warner Bros. Discovery has also expressed interest in acquiring Paramount.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Apple TV+ ordered a second season of “Hijack,” starring and executive produced Idris Elba (“Luther”). The thriller has become one of the top dramas on the streamer. “I was floored by the overwhelming audience response after season one. It’s top secret what new situation unfolds for Sam Nelson but I can assure you we will bring the high octane back!,” said Elba.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Also greenlit for a sophomore run is Venture 10 Studio Group influencer competition series “Follow Me,” for Crackle and The CW App. Ten new episodes will launch in 2Q24 with Mars Wrigley and other sponsors slated to return from the show’s debut season.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Global has renewed Canadian legal drama “Family Law” for a fourth season with 10 episodes. Season four starts production in Vancouver this March, with returning stars Jewel Staite, Victor Garber, Zach Smadu, Genelle Williams and Lauren Holly. The renewal comes ahead of the show’s season three Canadian premiere.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The Hollywood Creative Alliance is suing the Critics Choice Association for defamation, claiming the CCA is attempting to “boycott and steal members of the HCA.” The move comes after the CCA announced HCA members would no longer be able to maintain membership in the CCA, and members of both groups would have to resign from the HCA to remain in the CCA. Says the complaint, “HCA is informed and believes that CCA understood that HCA’s membership substantially overlapped with CCA’s much larger membership. HCA further is informed and believes that CCA knew that the coercive effects of its demand that its members resign en masse from HCA, coupled with its defamatory falsehoods about voting irregularities, would deprive HCA of a critical mass of members and its ability to operate as a meaningful competitor of CCA.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
The estate of Tammy Wynette’s fifth and final husband is suing Showtime over the depiction of George Richey in “George & Tammy.” The suit claims the show violated an NDA signed by Georgette Jones, daughter of Richey and Wynette and a consulting producer on the series.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Media news site The Messenger, launched last May, is shutting down. “Over the past few weeks, literally until earlier today, we exhausted every option available and have endeavored to raise sufficient capital to reach profitability,” wrote founder Jimmy Finkelstein in a memo to staff. “Unfortunately, we have been unable to do so.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
The cast for global thriller “The Kollective,” produced by Submarine (“Undone”) and created by Leonardo Fasoli (“Gomorrah”), Maddalena Ravagli (“Gomorrah”) and Submarine’s Femke Wolting, and set to be distributed worldwide by A+E Media Group, was announced. Onboard are Natascha McElhone (“Californication”) Celine Buckens (“War Horse”), Felix Mayr (“Unorthodox”), Gregg Sulkin (“Marvel’s Runaways”), Grégory Montel (“Call my Agent”), Karel Roden (“Bourne Supremacy”), Cassiopée Mayance (“La Mante”), Martha Canga Antonio (“Lupin)” and Ralph Amoussou (“Transatlantic”). The European Alliance, including France Télévisions, Rai Fiction (Italy), and ZDF (Germany), and Hulu (US) will premiere the series in 2025. Videoland will premiere the series in the Netherlands.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ITV Studios has joined forces with Dutch-based Skoon Energy, the AI-powered software platform for clean mobile energy, to help deliver its Net Zero plans globally. The partnership calls for Skoon Energy to provide energy expertise and software tools to ITV Studios’ 60 plus production labels worldwide. The aim is to simplify the implementation of clean power solutions, as well as offering access to their clean mobile energy systems that will share data insights on production emissions.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Taraji P. Henson (“The Color Purple”) has joined the cast of “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist,” Peacock’s limited series telling the true story of an armed robbery that took place the night of Muhammad Ali’s historic comeback fight in 1970. Dexter Darden (“The Maze Runner”) will play Ali.
(Source: Cynopsis)
New HGTV series, “Small Town Potential,” premieres Sunday, March 3 at 9p. In the eight-episode season, a real estate agent and designer and her life partner and contractor help families who are ready to settle down in a cozy upstate New York town find the perfect house to renovate and call home.
(Source: Cynopsis)
A new season of Food Network’s “Spring Baking Championship” kicks off Monday, March 4 at 8p with a two-hour episode.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Supermodel Ashley Graham will co-host and executive produce The Roku Channel competition series “Side Hustlers,” debuting Friday, March 1. Graham joins previously announced host Emma Grede.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Bail Jumpers,” featuring conversations between bounty hunters and apprehended fugitives as they drive back to the clink, premieres Tuesday, March 5 at 10p on ID.
(Source: Cynopsis)
National Geographic’s annual Best of the World franchise is featured in a new three-part YouTube series based on the 2024 list. The inaugural Nat Geo YouTube original series is told through a diverse set of talent and local film crew, who have first-hand knowledge of the cultures of each location through lived experience.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Tech industry CEOs were in the crosshairs during a D.C. hearing on the sexual exploitation of children online. Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, X’s Linda Yaccarino, TikTok’s Shou Chew, and Snap’s Evan Spiegel acknowledged the horrors of the issue, and outlined the safety measures being taken. But that wasn’t enough to satisfy senators backing legislation that increases platform liability and criminal enforcement. Calling for the repeal of Section 230, a provision that protects platforms from liability for third-party content, Sen. Lindsay Graham told Zuckerberg, “I know you don’t mean it to be so, but you have blood on your hands. You have a product that is killing people.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
With a tip of the hat to AI, Microsoft reported strong fourth-quarter results, with revenue rising 17% year-over-year to $62.1 billion. “We’ve moved from talking about AI to applying AI at scale,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. “By infusing AI across every layer of our tech stack, we’re winning new customers and helping drive new benefits and productivity gains across every sector.”
(Source: Cynopsis)
TikTok is testing a new feature that would link products to posts on the app, facilitating shoppable content, reports Bloomberg. The feature can identify objects in user videos and then encourage viewers to find similar items on TikTok Shop, the company’s e-commerce offering. Presented with a page of products, users can click to buy.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Lifetime sequel “Single Black Female 2: Simone’s Revenge” premieres Saturday, March 2 at 8p, set three years after the events of the first film. The original garnered over 8.0 million total viewers across linear and on digital platforms and was the #1 original non-holiday movie of 2022.
(Source: Cynopsis)
Bounce and Bounce XL will present curated movies and specials that pay tribute to the contributions of African Americans for Black History Month. Every Friday night in February, Bounce will showcase movies that feature ordinary people used their voices in the face of adversity to become change agents. Bounce XL is offering specials and documentaries featuring Former President Barack and Michelle Obama, Eddie Murphy, Will Smith, Chris Rock and Tyler Perry.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The American Kennel Club special, “NFL Dog Plays of the Year,” airs on ESPN tomorrow, February 2 at 9:30p as part of Pro Bowl weekend (check local listings). The show highlights NFL players and their admiration for canine competitors who demonstrate incredible athletic feats.
(Source: Cynopsis)
ABC News Studios and L.A. Times Studios documentary “The Housewife and The Hustler 2: The Reckoning,” an investigation into ex-powerhouse attorney Tom Girardi and the fall of his legal empire, starts streaming Monday, February 12 on Hulu. The show covers the moment when Girardi’s estranged wife and reality TV star Erika Jayne meets with some of her husband’s victims.
(Source: Cynopsis)
HGTV delivered its largest month-over-month ratings gains in its history in January, as well as achieving a 25% increase over 4Q23 ratings and a 36% boost over the prior six weeks.
(Source: Cynopsis)
The week of January 22, “CBS Mornings” hit a 62-week high among A25-54, topping ABC rival “GMA” three times during the week, and delivered the most total viewers in 38 weeks.
(Source: Cynopsis)
“Live with Kelly and Mark” hit series highs in Households (1.81 rating) and Total Viewers (2.67 million) the week of January 15, delivering the franchise’s strongest week in nearly 3 years in both metrics. In addition, “Live” scored its 2nd highest-rated week of the season among W25-54 (0.58 rating).
(Source: Cynopsis)
Keely's Korner 